New Jersey-based We Put Out Records has signed post-hard core trio Step Kings and will release the band’s third offering, 3 the Hard Way, on April 23rd.

Step Kings released an EP, Seven Easy Steps, in 1997 and a full-length, Let’s Get in On, in 1999 through their own Fantastic Plastic label. Soon after, Let’s Get it On was picked up and re-released through Roadrunner Records in mid-2000.

“We've gone through a lot this past year on the business side, which always sucks the life out of a band,” said bassist/vocalist Bob McLynn. “Finally we just said, ‘Let's get a new record out.’ We set our minds to write a new album and some of the best songs we’ve ever written just poured out!”

We Put Out Records has had a direct link with Step Kings for years through its parent company, The Music Syndicate, which has handled radio promotion for the group’s other records.

“The decision to put out 3 the Hard Way wasn’t tough,” said Reverend Dave Ciancio of The Syndicate/We Put Out Records. “We fell in love with their high octane new style of punked-up rock and roll right from the get go and are elated to call them part of our family.”

The Syndicate will launch college and commercial specialty radio campaigns in early spring and its marketing division, The Street Syndicate, will work extensively around the album’s release and in tour markets. We Put Out Records is distributed by Brooklyn-based distributor The Telegraph Company.

Step Kings are managed by Jay Jay French and Sean Sullivan of Rebellion Entertainment. “When we first heard the Step Kings’ demos, which led to the new release 3 the Hard Way, we both felt that this was the best new music we had heard in years,” said French, guitarist of Twisted Sister.

Step Kings will hit the road soon with good friends Ill Nino, Primer 55, and Sw1tched. Expect them tour for the rest of the year.